new carbon capture project director at holcim paves the way to near-zero cement

Holcim UK has appointed Jan-Willem Verkaik to lead the new Carbon Capture project at its cement plant in Cauldon, Staffordshire.

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The recruitment comes as the global leader in innovative and sustainable building materials looks to accelerate its ambition towards net-zero cement production.

Jan-Willem brings over 30 years’ project management experience, having overseen the planning and execution of major gas developments worldwide in countries such as Norway, Iraq, the UAE and Russia. He is now using his expertise to manage the development of a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) plant, supporting Holcim’s broader decarbonisation goals.

The manufacturing of cement emits CO 2 through the heating of raw materials. CCS technology reduces industrial carbon emissions by capturing the emitted CO 2 at its source for either reuse or for storing it underground. Investment in CCS is an essential step in delivering on Holcim UK’s own sustainability goals, as well as the net zero ambitions and regulations of the UK and the EU.

On his appointment, Jan-Willem said: “My passion is keeping our industries competitive, and there is no better place to realise this than in the building materials industries in the UK and Europe. Carbon capture is a vital part of that, especially when it comes to cement and concrete production. 

"I am delighted to join a team of specialists at Holcim and lead the Cauldon CCS project in an industry that’s striving to meet net zero carbon emissions. Our goal is to make sustainable construction a reality in the UK, in turn improving the lives of
people.”

In his new role, Jan-Willem is also supporting the broader development of a venture of various industry partners under the Peak Cluster development. Peak Cluster is an innovative collaboration of leading industries with the purpose to capture, transport and permanently store carbon dioxide (CO₂) created in product manufacturing. It aims to cut annual carbon emissions from the involved partners by three million tonnes a year from 2032.

Mohamed Ben Driss Alami, managing director for the cement business at Holcim UK, said: “We are delighted to have someone with the experience and calibre of Jan-Willem leading our carbon capture project at Cauldon. His passion for sustainable industry and extensive relevant knowledge will be crucial in leading the project to success and realising our ambitions.”

A focus on decarbonisation will contribute to Holcim’s longer-term sustainability targets, including becoming net zero by 2050. To read Holcim’s positioning paper on how it plans to Make Sustainable Construction a Reality, click here.